Alesse and Bleeding: What Users Say

• 7...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Alesse was the first birth control I ever took. I was 18 and had been having horrible periods. Constant, painful cramps and heavy flow. My gynecologist suggested Alesse to make my period lighter. I bled for over a month! Not spotting. Full-on heavy bleeding with horrible cramps. I eventually stopped and decided to deal with my period. At least I knew when it would end."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 18, 2014

For Birth Control "Up until this past fall, I hadn't experienced any negative side effects while taking the pill. Then I started having anxiety attacks, feeling depressed about everything, rapid weight gain (25 lbs in 2 months despite living at the gym), extreme irritability, heavy bleeding (3-4 super tampons every 2 hours) halfway through a pack, intense cramping, new and powerful migraines, and horrible skin. I've been off of it for 2 months now, and I feel worlds better. I still have bad skin, and although my anxiety is manageable, it's still there, but at least I can get out of bed, and the headaches have slackened. I'm looking at other options now because abstinence is difficult."

• kar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2018

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I started to take Alesse a little over 2 months ago, and my period has not stopped! The breakthrough bleeding is ruining my life. Every single day, I have what is like morning sickness, breast tenderness, and feel sick to my stomach. GET OFF THIS PILL. Oh, and it caused me to break out!"

• Con...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 7, 2017

For Birth Control "I've started taking this type of birth control. It's my first birth control in general, and my first pack. I've been getting sharp cramps and am now bleeding (even after my period has stopped) and huge migraines on the right side only of my head (whether or not this is a side effect, I don't know, but it has occurred ever since I started taking Alesse). I don't know if I should be alarmed about the sharp cramps, as they are extremely painful, but do go away and come back within seconds. I want to play it safe, but I also want to make sure there is nothing wrong with myself down there. Anyone else having these issues?"

• Bdo...
• December 17, 2015

For Birth Control "I've been on Alesse for 2 months, and my experience with it has been absolutely horrible. Cramps every day, breakthrough bleeding, acne, sore breasts, frequent urination, back pain, nausea, bloating, anxiety, and depression. Probably the worst birth control someone could possibly go on!!"

• Anonymous
• November 15, 2009

For Endometriosis "Before being diagnosed with endometriosis, my doctor put me on Alesse to help with menstrual irregularity and intense pelvic pain. After two weeks on Alesse, I had to be put on iron and progesterone because I bled until I was anemic. Be careful about taking hormones that contain estrogen if you have endometriosis."

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2019

For Birth Control "I tried the generic brand of Alesse called AlySensa 28 for 3 months, and I can safely say it's been the absolute worst 3 months of my life. I experienced almost all possible side effects: painful cramping, increased bleeding, headaches, body pain, mood swings, panic attacks, everything. I also never had this birth control actually regulate my period, my period came when it wanted and was just super heavy and incredibly painful, and I had some major mood swings, which is not even close to normal for me. Although, I didn't get pregnant, so there's that."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2018

For Ovarian Cysts "Nonstop bleeding for 3 months after having a regular period for 30+ years. Anxiety, depression. Headache, nausea. Increased facial hair, breast size, and retained water. Would NEVER recommend. 3 days after I stopped taking it, my mental health immediately stabilized, but the 'breakthrough bleeding' continues. Glad I survived this preposterous experiment. Should be a class action suit!"

• Run...
• June 29, 2017

For Birth Control "There were many positives to Alesse (I was on the generic - Aviane). This was about my 4th or 5th kind of BC pill, as I tend to have issues and side effects with most others. The only side effects I had on this were spotty, random periods, and acne. I can handle the breakthrough bleeding, but the acne was just awful. I have acne-prone skin, and Yaz totally cleared it up, but made me gain weight. When I switched to Alesse, I lost weight (not entirely due to changing the pill), but my acne came back horribly. I am going to switch soon. I didn't have any mood swings. I have some cramps during my period. It didn't mess with my sex drive (Yaz killed it). I would recommend this ONLY if you don't have issues with acne."

• Sam...
• January 21, 2018

For Birth Control "I was on Alesse for two years. For the first few months, I didn't experience any side effects, but after that, I was an emotional wreck with no sex drive. After those side effects subsided, I began breakthrough bleeding a week before I started my sugar pills (this lasted a year), which was frustrating. I am now off the pill and am going to be trying something new. I did not personally experience any acne or weight gain, but the emotional side effects were daunting."

• Jan...
• February 4, 2021

For Birth Control "I’ve been taking Alesse close to a year now. I noticed that my acne was starting to get really bad... the worst it had been in years. I’m 27, and it reminded me of being in high school again. I’ve had a major appetite lately, and I’m not sure if that’s related to the birth control or not. I was getting a lot of breakthrough bleeding between my periods as well. Struggling with exhaustion and occasional nausea... but on the plus side, my mood had significantly improved and leveled out. I was way less emotional. I tried to stick this out and see if my body would balance out, but my acne just keeps getting worse. The other day I saw my mom, and she looked at my skin and said, “What happened? I haven’t seen that in a long time.” Between that and the breakthrough bleeding, I knew I needed to give something else a try."

• Xcv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 2, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on this pill for almost 4 months now. The first month I had breakthrough bleeding, no other side effects other than that. The third and 4th month was when the side effects all hit me at once: bloating, weight gain, slight headaches, and uncomfortable cramps. My period has gotten a lot lighter, but I am thinking of switching if these side effects still occur."

• Ale...
• March 28, 2016

For Ovarian Cysts "I was on Alesse for two full months. I had breakthrough bleeding for the entire first month. Throughout the two months, I was nauseous, had stomach cramps, and had terrible headaches two to three times a week. I have never had a problem with headaches before, and these were unbearable. I had night sweats, and worst of all, my depression and anxiety became the worst that I have ever seen them. Whenever I went on the 7 days of sugar pills, my mood would improve. It worked wonders as a contraceptive, and it got rid of my hormonal acne, which is the reason I went on it. However, I'll deal with the acne because it's better than me wanting to die. This won't happen to everyone because I do have other mental health issues."

• kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 12, 2016

For Birth Control "It is only my fifth day on this medication, and I have only had a tiny bit of nausea. No headaches or anything like that. But I have a long list of mental health problems, and I don't know if I am just having an episode or if this medication is causing the depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts to be so strong. I am stuck. Prior to this medication, I was taking seasonal, and it was my favorite birth control. You only got your period every three months (which I would even skip sometimes), but I ended up constantly having breakthrough bleeding after being on it for over a year. I've tried others. But now I'm trying Alesse. And so far, it's not going well even the slightest bit. I can't handle the intensity of this emotional breakdown, lol."

• Anonymous
• June 17, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "This has been a complete nightmare. I have always been sensitive to hormonal birth control methods, so that is why my doctor prescribed Alesse. The first month was fine. I was constantly hungry, and my boobs hurt, but it was manageable. Now, I barely finished the second pack, and I have to stop because of my moods. I gained at least 5 pounds. I'm always hungry. My breasts hurt like anything. I had 2 weeks of breakthrough bleeding. The cherry on top of the cake: a yeast infection! Yay! So, no more poison for me. Never again."

• Lys...
• March 31, 2016

For Birth Control "Was on Alesse for 4 months, but by the middle of the 4th month, the breakthrough bleeding I would experience after the first week of the pills had not stopped. I would have my period for two weeks. In the first two months, I experienced weight gain and a bit of nausea and swelling of my breasts. However, after about a week, the nausea was gone, and in the third month, no other side effects except bleeding were felt. I scored it so low because of all the breakthrough bleeding. No other side effects, though, once it was more regular to my body. I'm 18, btw :)"

• fai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 14, 2024

For Birth Control "I've been on Alesse for around 5 months, and in that time I've had a couple of things happen. In the beginning, my period was 4 days long for the first 3 months. Now, I'm spotting for 2 days, have my period for 5, and spot for 3 after. This month, I had breakthrough bleeding, but it might be because I didn't take it at the same time every day (ranges from 7 AM-2 PM)."

• Lit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 21, 2022

For Birth Control "I had an average experience with Alesse. The first 3 months were fine, maybe some slight moodiness, which subsided, but my periods were way lighter. My only complaint was breakthrough bleeding that would start a few days up to a week before my placebo pills started. On my last month using Alesse, the breakthrough bleeding started halfway through the pill pack. My doctor suspects the estrogen levels are too low for me, and so I’m switching to Freya (Marvelon) next month. Pro tip for anyone using the brand version, there’s a discount card available on the Alesse website that can bring the cost down to the price of generic pills."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 9, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on Alesse 2 months now; I find this pill is pretty good, except the first month I bled the whole time. Then it went away. I have not gained weight or had mood swings or acne, which is great, but it's like now I have chronic fatigue. Coffee only fixes it so much, but everything else is great."

• Fru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 25, 2022

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Just finished the first pack of Alesse 28 and have been bleeding for a month. I was prescribed this pill to help regulate my period through perimenopause. Been taking birth control pills on and off for the last 25 years and never had side effects. Prior to Alesse, my periods were irregular but didn’t have any breakthrough bleeding. Will try to get through the next 2 packs, but if bleeding continues, I will have to discontinue Alesse."

• Fru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 25, 2022

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Just finished the first pack of Alesse 28 and have been bleeding for a month. I was prescribed this pill to help regulate my period through perimenopause. Been taking birth control pills on and off for the last 25 years and never had side effects. Prior to Alesse, my periods were irregular but didn’t have any breakthrough bleeding. Will try to get through the next 2 packs, but if bleeding continues, I will have to discontinue Alesse."

• Lau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2019

"Unfortunately, this pill is not working out for me. I have been having heavy bleeding for 3 weeks straight now, am an emotional wreck, have no energy, nausea, unending appetite, edema, and acne. I’m trying to score an engineering co-op right now and do not have time to “wait it out” because the side effects (mood swings especially) are affecting my ability to be a functional human being. I don’t want to find out how that translates into the interview process. Because of my limited time on this, you should take my review with a grain of salt. However, even if I didn’t have co-op interviews coming up, I would probably discontinue this before the recommended 3-month period anyway. These side effects are pretty disturbing for something I don’t need to be on."

• Anonymous
• August 1, 2009

For Birth Control "I was on it for 2 years and never had any problems. My periods were predictable, and it decreased my cramping and bleeding. I still had a period for 6 days, but with light bleeding, it's not that bad."